Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Mondeor, Johannesburg South

Just 11km south of Johannesburg, near Mondeor, is the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, 615 hectares of protected natural environment. For any nature lover, the reserve is a treasure trove. About 150 bird species, wildlife that includes hartebeest, wildebeest, zebra, blesbok, duiker, springbok, mountain reedbuck and many more small mammals. The scenic surrounds are enhanced by the Bloubosspruit stream that meanders through the reserve. The terrain is home to around 650 indigenous plants and trees and is one the largest nature reserves in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.

The reserve is fenced and supervised by horse patrols, with a guard at the parking area in Frandaph Drive, Mondeor. It is a safe venue, ideal for a family day out, enjoying a picnic or hiking.

This beautiful spot was once home to our ancestors over 250000 years ago, and traces of their life have been found. Klipriviersberg boasts the highest concentration of identified Iron Age sites on the Witwatersrand. Many relics, such as ancient stone circles, the remains of nineteen stone-walled dwellings thought to date from about 1500, the remains of an ancient BaTswana village and the walls of a house built in 1850 by one of the early voortrekkers, Sarel Marais, have been found.

Hikes

There is a network of trails running through the reserve, ranging from short ambles to a 5.8km or 9km hike. The trails lead through picturesque countryside, with beautiful views across Mondeor and Kibler Park from the highest points.

The best place to enter the reserve for walking purposes is at Frandaph Road, Mondeor. From here it is a walk of just over a kilometre to Silent Pool. A gum pole sticking vertically out of the ground indicates the spot where the path leaves the Bloubosspruit and climbs up the mountain.

Guided walks are available on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. These start from Frandaph Drive entrance at 9h00 (May to September) and 8h00 (October to April) and last for about 3 hours.

The reserve is open daily, from sunrise to sunset and admission is free. It is run by Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association which has a membership of more than four hundred, in conjunction with Johannesburg City Parks and Gauteng Nature Conservation. Large and small corporate events, filming commercials and photography, as well as horse trails can be arranged. Telephone: 011 943 3578.

Getting there: From the N12 southern bypass, take the Klip River Drive off-ramp. Go south and turn right onto Columbine Avenue. (Dischem, Black Steers and a garage either side); turn left into Ormonde Drive. Pass Devereux Avenue on your left; just before the bridge turn left into Frandaph Drive. At the end of Frandaph Drive, use the Silent Pool entrance into the reserve.

Or, take the De Villiers Graaf Motorway (metro route 1) south, taking the Columbine Avenue off-ramp and follow the directions as above.

From the M1S, pass Gold Reef City, pass the off-ramp to Nasrec, look out for the “Vereeniging – R82” sign making sure you don’t end up on the N12 to Bloemfontein! (Tip: be in the right lane); Continue on the R82, passing Columbine Avenue off-ramp (South Gate shopping centre on your right); travel 3 kms and turn left at the first traffic light into Pierpont Drive – there is a sign pointing to Kibler Park; Follow this road for about 1km to until you get to a fork (there is a small island); Take the left fork (Pierpont Drive) and almost immediately a right fork; Continue on this road (Pierpont) to the T-junction on Peggy Vera Road and turn left; Pass the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre on your right and turn right into the new KNR entrance precinct immediately after the recreation centre.